Front-accessible communications port for enclosed electrical equipment

ABSTRACT

An improved electrical equipment enclosure includes an electrical enclosure, electrical equipment in said electrical enclosure, said electrical equipment including one or more devices requiring a network connection to devices outside of said enclosure, and a network port mounted to said enclosure and accessible from externally of said enclosure and operatively coupled with said equipment requiring a network connection inside of said enclosure, for connecting said equipment with equipment outside of said enclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This invention claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/416,612, filed Oct. 7, 2002, for“Front-Accessible Ethernet Port for Enclosed Electrical Equipment.”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention is directed generally to network communicationaccess for enclosed electrical equipment, and more particularly tonetwork access for power monitoring/metering and/or control equipmentwhich is housed in an electrical enclosure with live electricalequipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Network communications technology is beginning to be used inenclosed electrical equipment, such as electrical distribution panels,motor control centers and enclosed breakers.

[0004] Ethernet-based devices are typically mounted inside theenclosure, with a permanent network cable connection to the customer'sLocal Area Network (LAN). However, such electronic devices are normallydesigned by engineers most familiar with information technology and notharsh electrical equipment environments. Therefore, often the end-usermust open the door to the equipment, or remove a sheet-metal panel, justto access the Ethernet-based device for commissioning or local datatransfer.

[0005] Furthermore, a special “cross-over” Ethernet cable is requiredbetween the user's PC and the Ethernet device. The normal networkconnection must be disconnected to provide the opportunity to make thelocal (temporary) connection. Then, after the commissioning procedure ordata transfer is complete, the permanent network cable must bereconnected, and the equipment door or panel replaced. Equipmentmanufacturers recommend equipment be de-energized for servicing; thisfurther complicates the process, since the Ethernet-based device must bepowered on during commissioning or data transfer. To accomplish thissafely, the equipment must be de-energized and re-energized only whilecovers are safely removed and only for that period of time during whichthe Ethernet-based device must be powered on.

[0006] PowerLogic® gateways (e.g., model EGX or ECC made by Square DCompany, the assignee of this invention, as well as some competitiveproducts) provide an Ethernet port for access to web pages representingthe equipment. However, these products are typically mounted inside theenclosure, making it necessary to open the equipment door or remove asheet-metal panel to gain access to the device. Furthermore, a special“cross-over” cable is still required, and this connection requiresdisconnecting the permanent network connection temporarily whilecommissioning takes place.

[0007] Power equipment with an embedded Ethernet server may not be soeasy to commission. Typical power control and monitoring equipment, suchas Square D's EGX and Power Server™ (PS) require local Ethernetconnection to set the IP address. This requires the customer tode-energize equipment (unless server is in a separate compartment), openequipment door or access-panel, reach in and disconnect Ethernet cableto LAN, re-connect a special “cross-over” cable to EGX or PS,re-energize equipment, set IP address, de-energize equipment again, ifneeded, remove temporary crossover cable, reconnect permanent Ethernetcable to LAN, close equipment, and re-energize. A better solution isneeded to ensure “easy to commission” Ethernet access for the equipment.

[0008] The ECC server is mounted in a CM3000 or CM4000 power monitor(also made by the Square D Company), which can be furnished with a localpanel-mounted display. Using this display, the initial commissioning ofthe server can be accomplished, thus avoiding the safety concernsdescribed above. However, this solution is only cost-effective ifcomprehensive metering (the main purpose of this device) is required.Furthermore, this only alleviates the problem with commissioning; thisdoes not provide a solution for local access to data transfer (withoutinterrupting remote operations, opening the enclosure, etc.).

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to providecommunication access for power monitoring/metering and/or controlequipment housed in an electrical enclosure with live electricalequipment

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Briefly, in accordance with the foregoing, an electricalequipment enclosure includes an electrical enclosure, electricalequipment in said electrical enclosure, said electrical equipmentincluding one or more devices or electrical systems requiring acommunication connection to devices outside of said enclosure, and acommunication port mounted to said enclosure and accessible fromexternally of said enclosure and operatively coupled with said equipmentrequiring a communication connection inside of said enclosure, forconnecting said equipment with equipment outside of said enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The FIGURE is a simplified diagram showing an Ethernet-baseddevice housed in an electrical enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Power equipment equipped with the technology described hereinbelow avoids all the above-mentioned problems.

[0013] A front-accessible Ethernet port allows access for commissioningand subsequent data transfer without opening equipment doors or removingaccess panels—improving safety and saving time. This port accepts astandard Ethernet cable, since the “crossover” function is accomplishedinside the equipment. No special “crossover” cable is required.

[0014] Because the equipment can be left energized safely, notime-consuming procedure is needed to de-energize and re-energize theequipment, saving additional time.

[0015] Finally, because the permanent network connection remains intact,the front-accessible port allows local data transfer without interferingwith remote operations.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, an Ethernet-based device 10 (shown here asan Ethernet gateway/web server for other connected devices inside anelectrical enclosure 15) is connected to one port of a 4-portindustrially-rated Ethernet hub 12, according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. The hub allows simultaneous connection of a remoteEthernet cable 16 (to customer's LAN) and a front-accessible Ethernetport 14 (for local access for commissioning and data transfer). Thefront port is an RJ-45 “pass-thru” connector, with standard (RJ-45)Ethernet jacks mounted back-to-back. These connectors, as well as the4-port hub, are commercially available components, applied in this wayuniquely to provide the desired benefits of safety, performance andconvenience.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, theEthernet hub function is incorporated within the Ethernet-based (webserver) device 10.

[0018] This arrangement allows commissioning of “web-enabled” electricalequipment and access to operating data via an Ethernet network withoutrequiring the equipment to be opened or special cables to be used. Thelocal front port also allows local data transfer to take place withoutinterfering with remote operations.

[0019] The invention provides a solution which features afront-accessible Ethernet port 14. A pass-through connector allows easyaccess to set the IP address. There is no need to open energizedequipment to commission the EGX or Power Server or for local access todata transfer. No special “crossover” cable is needed. A connectorspecially designed for industrial environments may include a tetheredcap. To allow multiple Ethernet connections, the hub 12 may be providedinside the equipment.

[0020] The front-accessible Ethernet port 14 greatly facilitatescommissioning and normal operation. The following outlines a setupprocedure:

[0021] Verify equipment is connected to active hub on customer LAN.

[0022] Get IP address from LAN administrator.

[0023] Enter this IP address into equipment (via front-accessible port14).

[0024] Now you're ready to type this IP address into your browser andread your meters.

[0025] The front port 14 can also be used to connect to the LAN anytimeafter commissioning to access data.

[0026] According to one illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, the communications technology is Ethernet-based and afront-accessible Ethernet port is used for descriptive purposes herein.According to another embodiment of the present invention, thefront-accessible communication port for enclosed electrical equipment isan infrared port. According to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention, the front-accessible communication port for enclosedelectrical equipment is a low power wireless technology such as 802.11(a, b or g) or Bluetooth.

[0027] While particular embodiments and applications of the presentinvention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the precise construction andcompositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes,and variations may be apparent from the foregoing descriptions withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical equipment enclosure comprising: anelectrical enclosure; networked power monitoring equipment mounted insaid electrical enclosure; and a communications port mounted to saidenclosure and accessible externally from said enclosure and, operativelycoupled with said networked power monitoring equipment requiring a localcommunications connection for connecting said networked power monitoringequipment with equipment outside of said enclosure.
 2. The electricalequipment enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is a powerdistribution enclosure.
 3. The electrical equipment enclosure of claim 1wherein said enclosure is a motor control center.
 4. The electricalequipment enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is a circuitbreaker panel enclosure.
 5. The electrical equipment enclosure of claim1 wherein said enclosure is an electrical switchgear cabinet.
 6. Theelectrical equipment enclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is anelectrical unit substation.
 7. The electrical equipment enclosure ofclaim 1 wherein said enclosure is an electrical distributionswitchboard.
 8. The electrical equipment enclosure of claim 1 andfurther including an Ethernet hub providing a plurality of Ethernetconnection ports mounted inside of said enclosure and operativelyconnected with said local communications port mounted to said enclosureand with said power monitoring equipment.
 9. The electrical equipmentenclosure of claim 1 wherein said enclosure has an accessible frontsurface, and wherein said network port is mounted to and accessible atsaid front surface.
 10. The electrical equipment enclosure of claim 1wherein said communications port is an infrared port.
 11. The electricalequipment enclosure of claim 1 wherein said communications port is alow-power wireless port.
 12. A method of providing a localcommunications connection for power monitoring equipment mounted insideof an electrical enclosure comprising: coupling a communications portmounted to said enclosure with said power monitoring equipment mountedinside said enclosure; and accessing said communications port externallyof said electrical enclosure.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein saidaccessing is Ethernet.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said accessingis infrared.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said accessing islow-power wireless.